June 8, 2008

Meet The Press

The no-spin zone is part of the Obama campaign’s identity, with the candidate stealing a phrase from John McCain in telling crowds he wants “a politics that’s not based on PR and spin but is based on straight talk.”

I don’t think Russert’s little kumbaya moment the other day (“It’s a role I think the media can play, in really trying to keep pushing this back to this big debate on big issues…”), or Scott McClellan’s broadside at the press for enabling BushCo., or the joint Obama-McCain announcement declaring the networks will no longer be hosting the presidential debates are isolated incidents. Not at all.

I also don’t think this fascinating portrait of Barack by Callie Shell (and its companion, Obama’s photo of a bashful Shell), taken back in April, was simply innocent and playful on Obama’s part, either.

The press doesn’t know it yet, but the days when the media felt free reign to a.) make up its own narrative, b.) focus almost exclusively on the horse race, or c.) render an impressionistic elaboration of the talking points is about over.

What’s that third line on the wall? Something about the drama becoming real? (Also like how BHO stands in for the CHANGE sign.) Whereas the Bush Administration alternately patronized and intimidated the press into dramatization, I think Obama — if using authenticity as its own form of PR — plans to subvert the relationship, throwing focus back on the media to stick to the facts.